By Julie Washington, cleveland.com

The nonprofit Neighborhood Family Practice received a $120,000 grant from the Three Arches Foundation to advance health equity programs. This is Neighborhood Family Practice’s North Coast Community Health Center in Lakewood. (File photo, John Benson, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Programs supporting school-based counseling, substance use disorder recovery, free health screenings and more are among the local initiatives that recently received a total of $2 million in grants from the Three Arches Foundation.

Three Arches, a community-focused grant-making foundation, distributed grants to 22 local nonprofit organizations working to address barriers to health care, the foundation said in a statement. Three Arches focuses on health disparities in Lakewood and surrounding communities.

Bellfaire JCB, the Eliza Jennings Home and Neighborhood Family Practice were among the agencies receiving 2024 Three Arches grants.

This year’s grants will fund the expansion of existing programs and services, new initiatives, and support of general operations, the foundation said. In addition to this year’s recipients, four nonprofit partners will begin year two of their multi-year grants awarded last year.

“These grants reflect a multitude of approaches that strengthen important systems of support in our communities in order to meet the respective needs of those who often face challenges in accessing essential health care,” foundation CEO Kristin Broadbent said in a statement.

Highlights of the 2024 grants include:

Bellefaire JCB received $228,647 to sustain access to vital behavioral health consultation and critical trauma-informed prevention services for students, families, and staff in seven Lakewood schools.

The Centers received $120,000 operating funds to support its goal of connecting individuals and families to a full continuum of health and wellness offerings.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation was awarded $120,000 to extend youth mental health navigator services, and add a psychiatric nurse to assist with chemical dependency and eating disorder support for Lakewood youth.

Eliza Jennings Home was given $150,000 to overcome barriers to long-term care, enhance essential services, and increase its skilled workforce to ensure adults on Cleveland’s West Side have access to high-quality, compassionate care.

Neighborhood Family Practice received $120,000 to remove barriers to primary care, behavioral health, midwifery, dental, HIV, and pharmacy programs for historically marginalized communities.

OhioGuidestone got $112,577 in renewed funding to provide mental health services for students, families and staff at four Lakewood elementary schools.

Recovery Resources was given $120,000 unrestricted funding for a community-based approach to helping people with mental health and substance use disorder.

Renee Jones Empowerment Center was awarded $124,200 over two years for free screenings and needs assessments in underserved and high-risk neighborhoods.